Topic: Lost cricket pitches in Public Parks (Read 15571 times)

jamielsn15 · « **Reply #15 on:** June 08, 2020, 07:38:28 AM »

Quote from: RPC/Blueroom Cricket - Adie on June 07, 2020, 03:10:39 PM

Council pitches rarely seem to be nice though let�s be honest. If the ECB cared they could buy up farm land, and rent it to smaller (not big clubs) clubs to make nice long term grounds

If the ECB had the money, which they don't, farmers are going to want to sell their land for development. Land gets sold at a price for which it will be used. A farmer who needs to sell their land are far more likely to do so to a housing developer for millions rather than donate the land to a sports club, as used to be the case, or for receational use.

You've only got to look at the number of housing developers adjacent to cricket amd sport clubs across former fatmland cropping up across the UK to see that's the case. The bygone days of farmers contributing land gratis are generally long gone.

Always, always, follow the money. Developers are often offering councils more money to develop on green space,as opposed to brownfield land as its cheaper to develop and doesn't need decontaminating. Same applies to farmers. Developers see rolling fields and views for executive homes, far more profit to be made there than apartmemts in towns...

Land is a valuable resource. There's not a public sports body that will be able to keep up with housing and commercial developers, alas.

bradleywiggins123 · « **Reply #16 on:** June 08, 2020, 09:12:25 AM »

Depressing but true, sadly.
Turning back to pitches in public parks can anyone think of an instance when a local council have reinstated a pitch. I can�t think of a single example locally to me but surely somewhere it has happened I hope

Jeff Navarro · « **Reply #17 on:** June 08, 2020, 12:29:44 PM »

There used to be a quite beautiful park pitch not to far from my home in inner London. A few years ago, might be a bit longer, but the council increased the pitch fees to such an extent where the side played there folded. When i occasionally walk passed there you can still see the square when the grass has been cut. It�s pretty sad as I always wanted to play there. Maybe in another life

bradleywiggins123 · « **Reply #18 on:** June 08, 2020, 12:52:43 PM »

That is a great pity, particularly in London ,where pitches are in such short supply .
Which park is it out of interest?

SOULMAN1012 · « **Reply #19 on:** June 08, 2020, 07:06:08 PM »

Been a long time since I played there but there was a stunning wicket in Greenwich Park in London at the top by the main gates with a lovely pavilion, it was stunning in all aspects but must be 10 years at least since I played there and about 7 years since I last went there.

In the main though where I live in Suffolk we don�t play on any council park pitches that I can remember but used to have a few in the Kent feeder leagues. Dartford heskeath Park which was used by Kent up until the 80�s I think is a stunning deck and still going, Bostal Heath near Erith was another that was pretty good back in the day

Psi · « **Reply #20 on:** June 08, 2020, 08:56:11 PM »

Anyone play in the Southend area? When I was a junior in the area they used to play County matches at Southchurch Park and Chalkwell Park, both lovely grounds and both town owned. Bet they don't use for 1st class anymore, but do they maintain decent pitches there for clubs?

bradleywiggins123 · « **Reply #21 on:** June 08, 2020, 09:04:58 PM »

Essex stopped using Southchurch Park a few years back and Chalkwell Park quite considerably longer. Both still in use by resident clubs and both nice grounds to play on with attractive pavilions.I can just about recall when they use to playcricket in Priory Park, which was a lovely setting. Amazingly after 35 to 40 years since the last game there the square is still intact.

Psi · « **Reply #22 on:** June 09, 2020, 12:07:47 AM »

I don't remember cricket at Priory Park, must have made a lovely ground. Last time I saw Essex at Southchurch Park must have been 42 years ago (!)

bradleywiggins123 · « **Reply #23 on:** June 09, 2020, 05:42:19 AM »

If you wander past the bandstand onto the football pitches and head left towards the entrance at the top of Victoria Avenue you can see the square still perfectly intact after all this time. Just up the road there were two cricket pitches at Victory Sports Ground and these have gone in the last couple of years. Horrible changing rooms but played in some highly enjoyable games there over the years.

SD · « **Reply #24 on:** June 09, 2020, 10:56:51 AM »

Quote from: jamielsn15 on June 07, 2020, 05:53:25 PM

No one's addressed the major point here. Council's parks, green spaces, open spaces departments habe been decimated due to budget cuts amd the prioritising of 'more important' departments as councils have to cost cut.

It is a terribly short termist approach to cut spending on recreation when compared to the long term costs of obesity and poor health but I sympathise with the local authorities having to implement these decisions. Their budgets are being cut by central government and the costs of providing services which they have a statutory obligations (imposed by the same central government cutting their budgets) are going up. It is inevitable that those areas of discretionary spending such as recreation are feeling the brunt of the cuts.

There seems to be an increasing divide between rural areas like where I am based where we have too many clubs as demographic changes and changes to family life are making it harder for clubs to get sides out, and urban areas where there aren't enough pitches but a high demand to play. The loss of local authority pitches is only going to make this worse

Psi · « **Reply #25 on:** June 09, 2020, 02:20:39 PM »

... And don't forget that football is king in most areas. If anything will be cut back it will be cricket facilities with its small/ dwindling numbers, while maintaining football pitches. Nothing against football which I also enjoy (watching only!) but a better balance would be good.

SD · « **Reply #26 on:** June 09, 2020, 02:49:19 PM »

Quote from: Psi on June 09, 2020, 02:20:39 PM

... And don't forget that football is king in most areas. If anything will be cut back it will be cricket facilities with its small/ dwindling numbers, while maintaining football pitches. Nothing against football which I also enjoy (watching only!) but a better balance would be good.

I know the same issues are being raised by those who use local authority football pitches. Hire costs going up and quality of preparation and mainteance going down.

jamielsn15 · « **Reply #27 on:** June 09, 2020, 06:09:01 PM »

Quote from: SD on June 09, 2020, 10:56:51 AM

It is a terribly short termist approach to cut spending on recreation when compared to the long term costs of obesity and poor health but I sympathise with the local authorities having to implement these decisions. Their budgets are being cut by central government and the costs of providing services which they have a statutory obligations (imposed by the same central government cutting their budgets) are going up. It is inevitable that those areas of discretionary spending such as recreation are feeling the brunt of the cuts.

There seems to be an increasing divide between rural areas like where I am based where we have too many clubs as demographic changes and changes to family life are making it harder for clubs to get sides out, and urban areas where there aren't enough pitches but a high demand to play. The loss of local authority pitches is only going to make this worse

I agree with you 100%. The challenge I have is in trying to get councils to look beyond the short termism and to commit to protecting a park or playing field. Incredibly difficult and I empathise with the issues they have

Jeff Navarro · « **Reply #28 on:** June 10, 2020, 09:24:52 AM »

Quote from: bradleywiggins123 on June 08, 2020, 12:52:43 PM

That is a great pity, particularly in London ,where pitches are in such short supply .
Which park is it out of interest?

Sorry I missed this, I can't quite remember the name of the park anymore. I moved away from the area and just discovered that park in now a housing development

if the name comes back to me I'll post it afterward

Author Topic: Lost cricket pitches in Public Parks (Read 15571 times)

jamielsn15

Re: Lost cricket pitches in Public Parks

bradleywiggins123

Re: Lost cricket pitches in Public Parks

Jeff Navarro

Re: Lost cricket pitches in Public Parks

bradleywiggins123

Re: Lost cricket pitches in Public Parks

SOULMAN1012

Re: Lost cricket pitches in Public Parks

Psi

Re: Lost cricket pitches in Public Parks

bradleywiggins123

Re: Lost cricket pitches in Public Parks

Psi

Re: Lost cricket pitches in Public Parks

bradleywiggins123

Re: Lost cricket pitches in Public Parks

SD

Re: Lost cricket pitches in Public Parks

Psi

Re: Lost cricket pitches in Public Parks

SD

Re: Lost cricket pitches in Public Parks

jamielsn15

Re: Lost cricket pitches in Public Parks

Jeff Navarro

Re: Lost cricket pitches in Public Parks